Protest prompts Ontario legislature to recess, after 2nd NDP attempt to end keffiyeh ban fails

I seek unanimous consent that this House acknowledged that the kafia is a culturally significant clothing item to many in Ontario’s Palestinian, Muslim and Arab communities and should neither be considered an expression of a political message nor an accessory likely to cause disorder and should therefore be permitted to be worn in this House. Order agreed. Heard some nose speaker. This question is for the premier. Calls and messages are pouring in from all across Ontario from Ontarians who are shocked to learn that people are being prevented from wearing cultural attire in the Legislative Assembly after the premier publicly acknowledged the ban on wearing the kafia was unnecessarily divisive. We gave him a chance again today to do the right thing and reverse it yet again. His Conservative members have said no speaker. Will the premier stand behind his words and compel his caucus to support the freedom to wear cultural attire at Queens Park? Woman House Leader, thank you very much, Mr. Speaker, I think the Premier was was abundantly clear in in how his views were on that. I will say to the Leader of the Opposition, it is not in the tradition of the Conservative Party to compel its members to do anything. There was a free vote and members expressed members on whatever side has expressed their opinions on that, Mister Speaker. So I can assure the member opposite that we will not be compelling our members to to do anything. It’s not what Progressive Conservatives do. We allow them to represent their their communities. Supplementary question Speaker, Ontario, Ontario is a place where different cultures are celebrated, celebrated. We work to uphold the values of diversity and to understand the pain that communities feel when they are not represented. We observe Truth and Reconciliation Day to acknowledge the impact of colonial oppression and the erasure of at times and and at times, criminalization of cultural symbols. Speaker Will the Premier support the freedom of cultural expression and stand with thousands of Ontarians who want to see the reversal of the Kafia ban the government? I see, Speaker again, the member of the Leader of the Opposition opposite will know that this is, of course, a decision that was made by the Speaker. At the same time, Mr. Speaker, at the same time, Mr. Speaker, I’ll continue on. We have amongst us the most diverse caucus in the history of this Province. This House stands in recess for 15 minutes.